Matrix-casting machine.



4 SHEETS-SHEET l IlY PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.

J. R. ROGERS.

MATRIX CASTING MACHINE.

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J. R. ROGRRS MATRIX CASTING MRGRIRR.

APPLIOATI FILI? MAY 26, 1906.

Hl l n, i In No.. 838,905. PATBNTED DEC. 18, 1906.-

J. R. ROGERS.

MATRIX CASTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 26, 1906.

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PATENTBD DEG. 18, 1906.

I. R. ROGERS'.

MATRIX CASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Il A y /y' i296. I mlm www1/to@ pose internal UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. ROGERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGEN- THALER LINOTYPE COMPANY,`A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MATRIX-CASTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application led May Z6, 1906. Serial No. 318,930.

To all whom, t may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. Roenns, of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Matrix-Casting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a machine for casting matrices such as are used in commercial linotype-machines of the present day and set forth in detail in United States Letters Patent No. 436,531.

To this end it consists in the combination of a mold'adapted to be opened and closed, with means for operating the same and for supplying it with molten metal. v

It also consists in the peculiar construction of the mold to admit of its parts being separated to release the matrix and also in roviding the mold with an adjustable wall, whereby it may be adapted to produce matrices having bodies of different thickness, but other parts of uniform thickness.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of my machine with portions broken away to exarts. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mo d. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same with one end in vertical section. Fig. et is a cross-section of the mold parts in operative position. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the matrices. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section of the same. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 7 7. Fig. 8 is a crosssection on the line 8 8.

Linotype-matrices require to be made with extreme precision and of an alloy adapted to withstand action of the molten metal repeat` edly cast against them. They must possess substantial strength and hardness sufficient to withstand wear and at the same time sufiicient toughness to avoid accidental fracture of the thin side walls of the characters or matrices proper. It is also necessary that the matrices should be produced with bodies of different thicknesses, according to the size and design of the characters contained in them, but with absolutely uniform .dimensions in other respects. The machine described herein is designed to meet all of the foregoing requirements.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 4 to 7, Y represents one of the matrices, such as are produced by my machine. Each matrix is complete in one piece in the form of a flat plate of generally rectangular form and the following features: ears y at the four corners of a thickness less than that of the body g an indentation in one edge containing the intaglio character or matrix proper, y, a V- shaped notch in the upper end, with distributing-teeth y2 in its edge; a side cavity or routing ya inthe upper end to reduce the thickness of the portion containing the distributingteeth, a central vertical slot g4 in one face, and, finally, a longitudinal depression if in one or both faces. Each matrix is also provided in the opposite edge from the character y with a like character at ye, this last character being in view of the operator during the composition of the line.

All of the features named must be contained in each matrix; but matrices bearing characters of different sizes, although alike in their marginal form, the thickness of the web containing the distributing-teeth, and the depth of the slot Lz/4, may differ from each other as to the thickness of the body and also in some cases as to the thickness of the ears y.

Referring now to the construction of the machine, A represents a rigid main frame, the form and construction of which may be varied at will, provided it is adapted to support the other parts.

B is a melting-pot secured rigidly to the top of .the machine within and surrounding a jacket or guard C, adapted to prevent radiation of heat.

D is a gas-burner fixed in the frame below the pot for the urpose of keeping the metal therein in a mo ten condition.

The pot is tightly closed at the top and is provided with a nozzle b for the delivery of metal to the mold, the inner end of this nozzle extending downward within-the pot below the level of the metal therein for apurpose which will presently appear.

E is an air-supply pipe leading into the upper part of the pot from an air-compressor or reservoir containing compressed air, which acts above the metal in the pot to drive the same upward and outward through the nozzle b into the mold, as hereinafter more fully explained. The air-inlet pipe is provided with a mechanically-actuated valve F, which controls the admission of air, and the pipe is also provided with a branch leading to the atmosphere and controlled by a mechanicallyeactuated valve G. The two valves are opened and closed alternately, the valve G being closed while the valve F is opened to admit air and expel the metal. After sufficient metal has been delivered the valve F is closed and the valve G opened, thus relieving the pressure in the pot and avoiding further delivery of the metal.

II represents the mold adapted to cast the matrix in an upright position. It consists, mainly, of the body portion h, two comple mentary slides 7L and h2, mounted on the body, and two complementary jaws h3 and h4, hinged to the body to close down upon the slides. The slides hf and h2, which stand upright and separate horizontally, have their inner vertical faces or ends arranged to close tightly together, so that they form, in eect, during the casting action a single piece. The mold-cavity h5 or mold proper is formed in the abutting ends of the two slides, one-half in each slide, the line of division being lengthwise of and at the center of the matrix.

It will be observed that the cavities h5 have the marginal form or contour of the required matrix. The depth of the mold and the consequent thickness of the mold-cell is determined by the two secondary slides h, mounted one in the slide h and the other in the slide h2. These slides 71, are movable horizontally, and they are secured by screws h?, passing through slots in the slides, as shown in the drawings, Screws hs are seated behind the secondary slides he and admit of their being adjusted with great precision to produce matrices of the exact thickness demanded. The two jaws h3 and h are arranged to close inward on opposite sides over the mold and against the vertical faces of the main slides h and h2, the inner ends of the jaws fiting tightly together, so that the escape of metal between them is prevented.

It will be observed that when the various parts are closed together in casting position, as shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4, the mold cell or chamber lis bounded on the rear vertical face by the slides h5, on the front vertical face by the jaws 71,3 and h4, and around the margin of the mold by the slides h and h2. The jaw 7b3 is provided with an inlet-groove 7i for the admission of the molten metal.

The mold as a whole is mounted to slide on horizontal guides I on the main frame, so that after the mold is closed it 'may be pushed for; ward toward the pot until the sprue-plate J, mounted on the nozzle of the pot, is seated tightly against the jaws of the mold, so that when the molten metal is delivered it will pass through the gate h9 and fill the interior of the mold.

For the purpose of forming the depression 'g3 in the V-groove and the teeth in the upper end of the matrix the hinged jaw h3 is provided with an adjustable core hm of proper form at the inner end This core extends outward through the jaw, as shown in Fig. 3, and is urged constantly outward by a spring hu. A screw k12 serves as a means for adjusting the jaw inward.

It will be remembered that all matrices must be made with the toothed web at the upper end of one and the same thickness. It is for this reason that the core h1" is made adjustable, so that its inner end may be set against the Islides h6 in the various positions of the latter. These slidesbeing removable, it will be remembered, change the thickness of the body of the matrices.

For the purpose of producing the matrix character y in the edge of the matrix a punch K, having the character on its end, is secured in the slide h5, with the character projecting into the mold-chamber. For the purpose of producing the reading character ijs in the opposite edge of the matrix I mount in the slide 7L a corresponding punch L.

After the matrix has been cast in the mold above described the jaws h3 and h4 are opened to release the matrix on the outside, and the slides h and h2 are separated to withdraw the punches from the edges of the matrix,

For the purpose of producing the central slot yf in the matrix I propose to providea suitable blade or projection in the rear face of the mold; but this feature is not shown in the drawings and is not claimed herein.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for moving the mold and its various parts. In the arrangement shown in the drawings the sliding movement of the mold as a whole to and from the pot is effected by IOO an upright lever M, pivoted at a central point in the main frame, its upper end being connected to the mold by a link m and. its lower end acted upon by a cam m on a horizontal main shaft N, seated in the main frame. The cam serves to move the mold toward the pot, and its retraction is effected by a spring O, extending from the main frame to the lower end of the lever M and acting in opposition to the cam.

The hinged jaws h3 and 7b4 of the mold are provided each with a projecting stud hlt, joined to the respective links 7h15 hm, which are extended horizontally rearward and slotted lengthwise to embrace fixed studs hw on the main frame. The links move forward with the pot until the rear ends of their slots arrive at the stds h1, whereupon the studs prevent further motion of the links and the latter act to close the jaws. Vhen the mold is retracted, the links are moved rearward until the forward ends of the slots arrive at the studs, whereupon the links are arrested and caused to open the jaws as the mold conainues to recede.

The mold-slides h and h2 are each joined to a lever h, centrally pivoted to the mold- IIO body and provided with a roller 72,18 at the rear end. As the mold completes its rearward movement the rollers enter converging slots 7L19 in a blade forming part of the main frame, the effect being to draw the ends of the levers 7i17 together, so that their lower ends will separate the slides 7i and 71,2 and release the matrix.`

The air-inlet valve Fis controlled by a connecting-rod f, joined to a lever f', which is centrally pivoted to the main frame and acted upon at its rear end by a grooved camwheel f2 on the main shaft. The valve G is operated in like manner by a rod g, connected to a lever g', actuated by a cam-wheel g2 on the main shaft. The main shaft N may receive motion in any sutiable manner g .but it is preferred to provide it with a gear-wheel n, actuated by a pinion n on a secondary shaft provided with a driving-pulley n2, to which the driving-belt is applied.

The inner faces of the hinged jaws will be formed to produce the longitudinal recess g5 in the side face of the matrix, and they.may be formed to give any other desired peculiarities to said face.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l. A matrix-mold consisting of the body portion, complementary slides thereon, and the complementary hinged jaws, the members constructed for joint operation, substantially as described.

2. A mold for forming linotype-matrices, comprising two separable members 7i, 77,2, recessed in the outer face, and the relatively movable members 7b3 and 7b4 arranged to cover said recess and having the sprue-hole 7b between them.

8. In a matrix-mold, the combination of the complementary recessed members 71, and 7b2 having a mold-cavity formed therein, means for covering and closing the upper side of said cavity, vertically-adjusting members forming the lower wall of the cavity, whereby the depth of the mold-cavity and the thickness ofthe matrix produced therein may be varied.

4. In combination with cooperating mold members 71, and 7b2 having a mold-cavity and a type K therein, a relatively movable member provided with a core 72,10 to form a recess in the side of the matrix.

5. In a mold for linotype-matrices, the combination offJv separable mold members 7L and 7x2 having a mold-cavity therein, movable slides 7&6 to vary the depth ofthe mold-cavity, and separable members 7b3 and 7a4 to close the upper side ofthe mold.

6.- A mold for a linotype-matrix comprising two opposing members having a moldcavity and a type character therein, said members separable edgewise of the matrix, in combination with two coperating members to close the upper side of the mold-cavity, one of these members having a gate or sprue in its end for the admission of metal to the center of the mold-cavity.

7. In a mechanism for casting linotypematrices, a mold comprising a body portion having in one side a shallow matrix-cavity, a movable covering member, and a metalinlet located in the cover in position to form the sprue centrally on the side face of the matrix; whereby the metal is uniformly distributed and the matrix produced with a continuous finished edge without seam or iin thereon.

8. In combination with the ixed meltingpot with means for delivering metal therefrom, the sliding mold comprising the sliding sections 7L, 7L', and the hinged sections 7b2, 7a3, and mechanism for moving the mold bodily and for relatively moving its sections as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 19th day of May, 1906, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

JOHN R. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

ROBERT G. CLARK, E. B. LAWRENCE. 

